1 Comment 
President Julius Maada Bio has donated NLe500,000 to the Association for Welfare and Advocacy of Retired Military Officers (AWARMO) in support of welfare initiatives for retired officers of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).
The association’s chairman, Brig. Gen. (Rtd) KES Boyah disclosed the donation on Saturday while addressing retired senior army officers during an end-of-year reunion at the Senior Officers Mess, Wilberforce Barracks, in Freetown.
He said President Bio, a retired brigadier and a member of AWARMO, recently met with a cross section of the association’s members at State House, where he made the donation as a demonstration of endorsement and moral support.
“The mission of AWARMO is to provide welfare and financial assistance to all retired RSLAF officers,” Brig. Gen. Boyah told the gathering. He emphasized that the association is non-political and completely detached from political affiliations or ideologies, noting that its sole focus is the welfare of its members.
According to him, AWARMO was formed in 2017 by senior retired RSLAF officers as an online social media platform. He said the platform initially served as a means for retired officers to share health information, personal development ideas and experiences related to personal challenges.
Over time, he explained, the group evolved into a welfare-focused organization and was formally registered as a non-political body last year.
Brig. Gen. Boyah said that through the cooperation and support of its members, the association has raised more than NLe400,000 to support retired officers and their families.
He stated that the funds have been used to provide NLe5,000 each in healthcare assistance to over 50 members, NLe10,000 each in funeral support to 40 bereaved families of deceased comrades, and NLe10,000 in financial assistance to selected retired officers and other ranks of the RSLAF in 2024.
He expressed gratitude to President Bio for the donation, describing it as encouragement for the association’s ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of retired military personnel in Sierra Leone.
The reunion brought together retired senior officers to reflect on the year’s activities and reaffirm their commitment to mutual support and welfare.
This is a news to some of us as retired officers who have been left out of the equation, it benefited just the selected few leaving the majority to rot . The message was never disseminated to every retired officers